US6055232A - Telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network - Google Patents

Telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network Download PDF

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Publication number
US6055232A
US6055232A US08/912,039 US91203997A US6055232A US 6055232 A US6055232 A US 6055232A US 91203997 A US91203997 A US 91203997A US 6055232 A US6055232 A US 6055232A
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Prior art keywords
service
call
coupled
computing platform
local switch
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US08/912,039
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English (en)
Inventor
Ronald L. Ward
Walter C. Robertson, Jr.
Kevin W. Hager
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WSOU Investments LLC
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Alcatel USA Sourcing Inc
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Priority to US08/912,039 priority Critical patent/US6055232A/en
Application filed by Alcatel USA Sourcing Inc filed Critical Alcatel USA Sourcing Inc
Priority to TW087112162A priority patent/TW387185B/zh
Priority to PCT/US1998/016675 priority patent/WO1999009756A2/en
Priority to AU89031/98A priority patent/AU8903198A/en
Priority to CO98046526A priority patent/CO4820452A1/es
Priority to PE1998000726A priority patent/PE108999A1/es
Assigned to ALCATEL USA SOURCING, L.P. reassignment ALCATEL USA SOURCING, L.P. CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: DSC TELECOM L.P.
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Assigned to OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LP reassignment OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LP SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/4228—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers in networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
    • H04Q3/0016—Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
    • H04Q3/0016—Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
    • H04Q3/0029—Provisions for intelligent networking

Definitions

  • This invention is related in general to the field of telephony. More particularly, the invention is related to a telecommunications network architecture deploying digital loop carrier as a switching platform.
  • the class 5 switch is a monolithic system generally containing a central computing unit, matrix, line modules, trunk modules, and service circuits. These components are typically tightly coupled forming a proprietary control architecture controlled by the central computing unit.
  • the digital loop carrier is being widely deployed to connect business and residential telephone customers to the class 5 central office switch.
  • today's central office switching systems were not initially designed with digital loop carriers or fiber optic loop equipment in mind.
  • long call hold times related to the rapid rise in the volume of data calls have resulted in increased service blockages in the end office switches.
  • class 5 switching systems generally contain a number of standard local services or features such as Class, Centrex, and Operator Services. Because of its monolithic and tightly coupled architecture, the class 5 switching system is usually comprised of components supplied by a single equipment manufacturer. Thus, when new services or features are desired, a network operator must request their implementation from the class 5 switch manufacturer. Due to the monolithic nature of the class 5 switching system, service and feature implementation are generally tightly coupled to the architecture of the switch. Therefore, new services and features are usually very costly to implement and require significant time to market. These costs and lead times for software upgrades led to the industry architecture known as Advanced Intelligent Network in the late 1980s as a way for local exchange carriers (LECS) to gain control of software development for new features. This process itself has been largely ineffective due to slow deployment and high costs.
  • Advanced Intelligent Network in the late 1980s as a way for local exchange carriers (LECS) to gain control of software development for new features. This process itself has been largely ineffective due to slow deployment and high costs.
  • a telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network is provided, which eliminates and substantially reduces the disadvantages of prior networks.
  • a telecommunications network for providing intelligent network services includes a distributed switching system having a call control computing platform coupled to a digital loop carrier, where the digital loop carrier is coupled to a plurality of telephone service subscribers.
  • a local switch is coupled to the digital loop carrier, and at least one service control point is coupled to the call control computing platform and the local switch.
  • At least one service control point contains service definitions and logic of both legacy services and intelligent network services.
  • a telecommunications network for providing intelligent network services in a legacy network includes at least one digital loop carrier coupled to a plurality of telephone service subscribers, a call control computing platform coupled to at least one digital loop carrier, where the call control computing platform is adapted to control and manage the operations of at least one digital loop carrier.
  • An intelligent peripheral is further coupled to the call control computing platform and at least one digital loop carrier to provide tone and announcement and digit collection functions.
  • a local switch is coupled to at least one digital loop carrier.
  • a first service control point is coupled to the call control computing platform and the local switch, and containing service definitions and logic of legacy services, and a second service control point is coupled to the call control computing platform and the local switch, and containing service definitions and logic of new intelligent network services.
  • a method for providing new intelligent network services to a legacy network includes the steps of monitoring for line events occurring on a plurality of subscriber lines coupled to a digital loop carrier, and providing dial tone and collecting dialed digits for a call on one of the plurality of subscriber lines in response to an off-hook event thereon. Then it is determined whether the call requires legacy service or a new intelligent network service, and the call is routed to a local switch for call processing and routing in response to the call requiring legacy service, and the call is processed in a service unit coupled to the digital loop carrier in response to the call requiring new intelligent network services.
  • a technical advantage of the present invention enables the provision and deployment of new intelligent network services without expensive and time-consuming upgrade efforts of the legacy switch.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture providing for the addition of intelligent network services to a legacy network according to the teachings of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture providing for the addition of new services to a legacy network according to the teachings of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture accommodating a local services switchless reseller or competitive local exchange carrier according to the teachings of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of another embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture accommodating a local services switchless reseller or a competitive local exchange carrier according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture providing for shared local access management between an existing local exchange carrier and a competitive local exchange carrier according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1-5 The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, like reference numerals being used to refer to like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture 10 providing for the addition of intelligent network services to a legacy network according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • Telecommunications network 10 includes a service unit (SU) 12, which is coupled to an intelligent peripheral (IP) 14 and at least one access delivery unit (DU) 16.
  • IP intelligent peripheral
  • DU access delivery unit
  • Intelligent peripheral 14 may be integrated with service unit 12.
  • Access delivery unit 16 may be a digital loop carrier which is coupled to a plurality of telephone service customers or customer premises equipment (CPE) 18.
  • CPE customer premises equipment
  • Digital loop carrier 16 may include a central office terminal (not shown) coupled with a remote terminal (not shown) with fiber or metallic cabling in the feeder network, as well as a host digital terminal stand-alone configuration in the wirecenter.
  • digital loop carrier 16 includes channel banks and a time-slot-interchange (TSI) fabric.
  • Digital loop carrier 16 may also provide integrated services digital network (ISDN) basic rate interface (BRI) and asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL)/integrated digital subscriber line (IDSL) capabilities.
  • ISDN integrated services digital network
  • BBI basic rate interface
  • ADSL asymmetrical digital subscriber line
  • IDSL integrated digital subscriber line
  • Service unit 12 is preferably a general purpose computing platform that performs the call control, screening, and management functions, and may interact with the SS7 signaling network and external network management or operations systems.
  • Digital loop carrier 16 acts as a switching unit of a distributed switching system 19 under the control of service unit 12.
  • Intelligent peripheral 14 is a specialized computing platform that includes tone and announcement facilities, dialed digit receivers, and digit senders. Intelligent peripheral 14 thus provides central office call processing functions such as providing dial tone, dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) digit monitoring and collection, and playing pre-recorded voice announcements.
  • DTMF dual tone multi-frequency
  • Access delivery unit 16 is coupled to a local switch server 30.
  • Local switch server 30 is a service switching point (SSP) that may interface with access delivery unit 16 in accordance with Integrated Digital Loop Carrier System General Requirements, Objectives, and Interface GR-303-CORE (hereinafter referred to as GR-303), a set of standard established by Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) for connecting digital loop carrier systems to central office switching systems.
  • SSP service switching point
  • GR-303 Integrated Digital Loop Carrier System General Requirements, Objectives, and Interface GR-303-CORE
  • GR-303 Integrated Digital Loop Carrier System General Requirements, Objectives, and Interface GR-303-CORE
  • Signal transfer points (STPs) 34 and 36 are cross-coupled and further coupled to local switch server 30, service unit 12, and service control points 40 and 42 via SS7 links. Signal transfer point 34 is also coupled to long distance networks 38.
  • Service control point 40 may contain service definitions and logic for legacy services, and service control point 42 may contain service definitions and logic for intelligent network (IN) or advanced intelligent network (AIN) services. Intelligent network services may include toll-free calls (1-800 and 1-888), debit card calls, etc.
  • Service control points 40 and 42 are coupled to a service management system (SMS) 44 via control and management links, which also couples service management system 44 to a service creation environment (SCE) 46 and an operational support system (OSS) 48.
  • SCS service management system
  • SCE service creation environment
  • OSS operational support system
  • Service creation environment 46 includes a workstation that a service designer may use to define and deploy a new service.
  • Operational support system 48 is also coupled to signal transfer point 36 and service unit 12.
  • Operational support system 48 may include service support functions such as provisioning and billing systems, for example.
  • architecture 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a way to add intelligent services to the legacy network.
  • Call originations are processed by access delivery unit 16, service unit 12, and intelligent peripheral 14.
  • access delivery unit 16 service unit 12, and intelligent peripheral 14.
  • intelligent peripheral 14 monitors and collects the dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) dialed digits.
  • Service unit 12 functioning as an external computer platform having call control screening intelligence for digital loop carrier 16, recognizes that this call is an intelligent network service call.
  • service unit 12 temporarily suspends call processing in local switch server 30, and sends a query to service control point 42 (through signal transfer point 36) that contains service definitions and logic of the new intelligent network services.
  • Service control point 42 looks up in a database the dialed 1-800 number and provides a translated number or destination address therefor. This translation information is communicated to service unit 12 which passes it on to local switch server 30. Local switch server 30 then proceeds to route the call in a normal manner according to the translation information. If the incoming call is not an intelligent network service call, then service unit 12 forwards the call directly to local switch server 30 for call processing.
  • access delivery unit 16 and service unit 12 provides a call screening function to recognize intelligent network service calls that are not supported by the legacy network.
  • Call processing functions such as destination address translation for the intelligent network service calls are performed by service unit 12 and a new service control point 42. Therefore, no expensive and time consuming upgrade of local switch server 30 is needed.
  • the new network components to be added to accomplish this task include distributed switch 19 (including service unit 12, intelligent peripheral 14, and access delivery unit 16), a service control point 42 and a signal transfer point 36.
  • FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture 60 providing for the addition of new services to a legacy network according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • Telecommunications network 60 includes a service unit 12, which is coupled to an intelligent peripheral 14 and at least one access delivery unit 16.
  • Service unit 12 is a general purpose computing platform that performs the call control and management functions, and may interact with the SS7 signaling network and external network management or operations systems.
  • Digital loop carrier 16 acts as a switching platform of distributed switching system 19 under the control of service unit 12.
  • Intelligent peripheral 14 is a specialized computing platform that provides central office call processing functions such as dial tone and digit collection. Intelligent peripheral 14 may be integrated with service unit 12.
  • the distributed switch architecture, service unit, and delivery unit please refer to Self et al.
  • Access delivery unit 16 is preferably a digital loop carrier which is coupled to a plurality of customer premises equipment 18.
  • Digital loop carrier 16 may include a central office terminal (not shown) coupled with a remote terminal (not shown) with fiber or metallic cabling in the feeder network, as well as a host digital terminal stand-alone configuration in the wirecenter.
  • digital loop carrier 16 includes channel banks and a time-slot-interchange (TSI) fabric.
  • TTI time-slot-interchange
  • a second delivery unit, a broadband delivery unit 62 is also coupled to service unit 12, intelligent peripheral 14, and access delivery unit 16.
  • Broadband delivery unit 62 is in turn coupled to a number of servers providing new broadband services.
  • the servers providing new broadband services may include a video server 66, a data server 67, a multi-media server 68, and an interworking function server 69.
  • Video server 66 is capable of processing and transmitting video signals.
  • Data server 67 is coupled to internet service providers, for example.
  • Multi-media server 68 is capable of processing and transmitting calls with video, audio, and data signals, for example.
  • Interworking function server 69 may be capable of bridging between the signaling protocols of two different technologies, such as, narrowband (SS7, ISDN, etc.) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) broadband ISDN (BISDN), broadband ISDN user part (BISUP), and private network-to-network interface (PNNI), for example.
  • SS7 narrowband
  • ISDN asynchronous transfer mode
  • ATM broadband ISDN
  • BIOSUP broadband ISDN user part
  • PNNI private network-to-network interface
  • Access delivery unit 16 is coupled to a local service switching point (SSP) server 30.
  • SSP local service switching point
  • Local service switching point server 30 is a switch that may interface with access delivery unit 16 in accordance with GR-303.
  • Local service switching point server 30 may be coupled to a second intelligent peripheral or equipment 32 that performs similar functions as intelligent peripheral 14.
  • Signal transfer points 34 and 36 are cross-coupled and further coupled to local service switching point server 30, service unit 12, and service control points 40 and 42 via SS7 links. Signal transfer point 34 is also coupled to long distance networks 38.
  • Service control point 40 may contain service definitions and logic for legacy services, and service control point 42 may contain service definitions and logic for intelligent network and new broadband services. Alternatively, service control points 40 and 42 may both include the service definition and logic of both legacy and new services.
  • Service control points 40 and 42 are coupled to a service management system 44 via control and management links, which also couples service management system 44 to a service creation environment 46 and an operational support system 48.
  • Service creation environment 46 includes a workstation that a service designer may use to define and deploy a new service.
  • Operational support system 48 is also coupled to signal transfer point 36 and service unit 12. Operational support system 48 may include service support functions such as provisioning and billing systems, for example.
  • call origination is processed by access delivery unit 16, service unit 12, and intelligent peripheral 14.
  • intelligent peripheral 14 provides the dial tone under the service unit's control.
  • the dialed digits are monitored and collected by intelligent peripheral 14 and provided to service unit 12.
  • the call control screening intelligence in service unit 12 is able to differentiate the call.
  • the user may dial a service code which is indicative of a new service not supported by local service switching point server 30, or the call setup message of an integrated services digital network call may contain the information needed, or the dialed digits represent the destination address of a know internet service provider.
  • Service unit 12 based on the information received, may provide a database lookup function to determine whether this call required new broadband services. If not, the call is simply forwarded to local service switching point server 30 to process and route normally. If the call is a new broadband service call, then the call is forwarded to broadband delivery unit 62 and routed to the appropriate server 66-69.
  • access delivery unit 16 may operate similarly to perform the hand-off function. If the call required new intelligent network or broadband services, access delivery unit 16 may signal an on-hook to local service switching point server 30 to drop processing of the call, and then route the call directly using normal interoffice routing and signaling. Access delivery unit 16 may optionally signal a "make busy" status to local service switching point server 30 by one of several configurable techniques. Without a signal, an incoming call to the subscriber would simply ring unanswered while the circuit is in service, as local service switching point server 30 would be unaware that the line is in use.
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture 80 accommodating a local services switchless reseller according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • a start up long distance telephone company it is possible for a start up long distance telephone company to operate by purchasing time from a long distance company such as MCI at a bulk rate and reselling the time to its long distance subscribers. Therefore the start up long distance company does not have to own any equipment in order to be in business.
  • Similar switchless resale of local services becomes a business possibility.
  • telecommunications network architecture 80 is constructed to accommodate this business opportunity and also provide the flexibility to provide different services by the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) which existed prior to deregulation, and the competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) which is a switchless reseller that comes into being after deregulation.
  • ILEC incumbent local exchange carrier
  • CLEC competitive local exchange carrier
  • Telecommunications network 80 includes customers 82 of the incumbent local exchange carrier and customers 84 of one or more competitive local exchange carrier, all of which are coupled to an access delivery unit 86 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Access delivery unit 86 is part of a distributed switch 88, which also includes one or more other delivery units (not shown), a service unit 100 and an intelligent peripheral 102, also owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Service unit 100 is a general purpose computing platform that performs the call control and management functions, and may interact with the SS7 signaling network and external network management or operations systems.
  • Access delivery unit 86 is preferably a digital loop carrier that acts as a switching platform of distributed switching system 88 under the control of service unit 100.
  • Intelligent peripheral 102 is a specialized computing platform that provides central office call processing functions such as dial tone and digit collection. Intelligent peripheral 102 may be integrated with service unit 100. Please refer to Self et al. for details of the distributed switch architecture.
  • Access delivery unit 86 is coupled to a local service switching point 104 also owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Local service switching point 104 is a switch that may interface with access delivery unit 86 in accordance with GR-303.
  • Local service switching point 104 may be coupled to an intelligent peripheral 106.
  • Local service switching point 104 is coupled to long distance networks 108 for routing long distance telephone calls.
  • Service unit 100 and local switching point 104 are both coupled, via SS7 link sets, to a signal transfer point 110 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Service switching point 104 is also coupled to a service control point 111 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Service control point 111 may contain service definitions and logic for services offered by both the incumbent local exchange carrier as well as the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Service control point 111 is coupled to a service management system 112 via control and management links, which also couples service management system 112 to a service creation environment and an operational support system 116, all of which are owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Operational support system 116 is accessible by both the incumbent local exchange carrier and the competitive local exchange carrier to provide their own operational support, provisioning and billing functions.
  • a competitive local exchange carrier or switchless reseller is able to share all the network elements with an incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Separate management and billing feeds may be provided for the competitive local exchange carrier, and separate service and call partitions are provided within service unit 100, service control point 111, service management system 112, and service creation environment 114.
  • the competitive local exchange carrier may design and provide its own service logic and definitions for unique services not provided by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • service unit 100 is able to perform a database lookup function and differentiate between the subscribers of the incumbent local exchange carrier and the subscribers of the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Service unit 100 may support call control and screening intelligence for multiple local exchange carriers. Depending on which local exchange carrier the subscriber has chosen for services, the call is processed and routed according to the incumbent or competitive local exchanger carrier's set of call logic programs and service definition.
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture 120 accommodating a local services switchless reseller according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • Telecommunications network 120 includes customers 82 of the incumbent local exchange carrier and customers 84 of one or more competitive local exchange carrier, all of which are coupled to one or more access delivery unit 86 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Access delivery unit 86 is part of a distributed switch 88, which may include one or more other delivery units (not shown), a service unit 100, and an intelligent peripheral 102. All of the components of distributed switch 88 are owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Access delivery unit 86 is coupled to a local service switching point 104 also owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Local service switching point 104 may be coupled to an intelligent peripheral 106.
  • Local service switching point 104 is coupled to long distance networks 108 for routing long distance telephone calls.
  • Service unit 100 and local switching point 104 are both coupled, via SS7 link sets, to a signal transfer point 110 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Service switching point 104 is in turn coupled to a service control point 111 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier and a service control point 122 owned by the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Service control point 111 contains service definitions and logic for services offered by the incumbent local exchange carrier, and service control point 122 contains service definitions and logic for services offered by the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Service control point 111 is coupled to a service management system 112 and an operational support system 116, both owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Service management system 112 is coupled to an incumbent local exchange carrier owned service creation environment 114.
  • Service creation environment 122 owned by the competitive local exchange carrier is coupled to other intelligent network components owned by the competitive local exchange carrier, including a system management system 124, and an operational support system 126.
  • a competitive local exchange carrier is entitled to negotiate connection agreements for local services and use of the incumbent local exchange carrier's distributed switch 88, local service switching point 104, and signal transfer point 110 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier as in architecture 80 shown in FIG. 3 and described above.
  • the competitive local exchange carrier instead of sharing the intelligent network components with the incumbent local exchange carrier, the competitive local exchange carrier owns some or all of the intelligent network components, which may include the service control point, system management system, service creation environment, and operational support system.
  • the competitive local exchange carrier may design and provide its own service logic and definitions for unique services not provided by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • service unit 100 is able to perform a database lookup function and differentiate between the subscribers of the incumbent local exchange carrier and the subscribers of the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Service unit 100 may support call control and screening intelligence for multiple local exchange carriers.
  • the call is processed and routed according to the incumbent local exchange carrier's set of call logic programs and service definition stored in service control point 111, or the competitive local exchange carrier's set of call logic programs and service definition stored in service control point 122.
  • the competitive local exchange carrier is able to design and create its own services, manage the deployment of the services, and create billing for the services without sharing the incumbent local exchanger carrier's equipment and resources.
  • FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network architecture 140 providing for shared local access management between an incumbent local exchange carrier and a competitive local exchange carrier according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • Telecommunications network architecture 140 is similar to architecture 120 shown in FIG. 4, and includes customers 82 of the incumbent local exchange carrier and customers 84 of one or more competitive local exchange carrier, all of which are coupled to one or more access delivery unit 86 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Access delivery unit 86 is part of a distributed switch 88, which may include one or more other delivery units (not shown), a service unit 100, and an intelligent peripheral 102. All of the components of distributed switch 88 are owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Access delivery unit 86 is coupled to a local service switching point 104 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier, as well as a local service switching point 142 owned by the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Incumbent local exchange carrier's local service switching point 104 may be coupled to an intelligent peripheral 106
  • competitive local exchange carrier's local service switching point 142 may be coupled to its own intelligent peripheral 144, also owned by the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Both local service switching points 104 and 142 are coupled to long distance networks 108 for routing long distance telephone calls.
  • Service unit 100 and local switching points 104 and 142 are coupled, via SS7 link sets, to a signal transfer point 110 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • Service switching point 104 is in turn coupled to a service control point 111 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier, and service switching point 142 is coupled to a service control point 122 owned by the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Service control point 111 contains service definitions and logic for services offered by the incumbent local exchange carrier, and service control point 122 contains service definitions and logic for services offered by the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • the incumbent local exchange carrier has a set of intelligent network nodes, including service control point 111, a service management system 112, and a service creation environment 114.
  • the competitive local exchange carrier also has its own intelligent network nodes, including service creation environment 122, a system management system 124, and an operational support system 126.
  • a competitive local exchange carrier may negotiate interconnection agreements for incumbent local exchange carrier's local services and use of distributed switch 88 and signal transfer point 110 owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • the competitive local exchange carrier instead of sharing the intelligent network components and the service switching point with the incumbent local exchange carrier, the competitive local exchange carrier owns some or all of the components, which may include the service control point, system management system, service creation environment, operational support system, and service switching point.
  • the competitive local exchange carrier may design and provide its own service logic and definitions for unique services not provided by the incumbent local exchange carrier.
  • service unit 100 is able to perform a database lookup function and differentiate between the subscribers of the incumbent local exchange carrier and the subscribers of the competitive local exchange carrier.
  • Service unit 100 may support call control and screening intelligence for multiple local exchange carriers.
  • the call is processed and routed according to the incumbent local exchange carrier's set of call logic programs and service definition stored in service control point 111, or the competitive local exchange carrier's set of call logic programs and service definition stored in service control point 122.
  • the competitive local exchange carrier is able to design and create its own services, manage the deployment of the services, and create billing therefor without sharing the incumbent local exchanger carrier's equipment and resources.

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  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
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  • Exchange Systems With Centralized Control (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
US08/912,039 1997-08-15 1997-08-15 Telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network Expired - Lifetime US6055232A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/912,039 US6055232A (en) 1997-08-15 1997-08-15 Telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network
TW087112162A TW387185B (en) 1997-08-15 1998-07-24 Telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network
PCT/US1998/016675 WO1999009756A2 (en) 1997-08-15 1998-08-11 Telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network
AU89031/98A AU8903198A (en) 1997-08-15 1998-08-11 Telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network
CO98046526A CO4820452A1 (es) 1997-08-15 1998-08-13 Arquitectura de red de telecomunicaciones que despliega servicios inteligentes en una red hereditaria
PE1998000726A PE108999A1 (es) 1997-08-15 1998-08-13 Arquitectura de red de telecomunicaciones que despliega servicios de red inteligentes en una red mandada

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US08/912,039 US6055232A (en) 1997-08-15 1997-08-15 Telecommunications network architecture deploying intelligent network services in a legacy network

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Cited By (15)

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WO1999009756A3 (en) 1999-05-06

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